Welding



y 1944. L'..'T. JONES 2,352,716

WELDING Filed April 24, 1940 ATTORNEY iNVENTOR LLOYD T.,JONES BY 2 v Qatented July 4, 1944 "WELDING Lloyd T. Jones, Berkeley, Calif., assignor to The Linde Air Products Company, a corporation of om Application April 24, 1940, Serial No. 331,304

Claims.

This invention relates to the art of joining metal members by welding, and more particularly to an improved method of welding and to an improved backing ban to assist in forming a more perfect weld.

1n butt welding metallic members such as steel plates, the opposed edges to be united usually are beveled to provide a groove to receive the melted metal or the filler rod and to facilitate the melting together of the bottommost portions oi the juxtaposed edges of the plates. Since it is necessary to thoroughly unite these bottommost edge portions, and since the molten base metal and weld metal at the welding temperatures are very low both in viscosity and in suriace tension, a heavy copper bar usually is placed lengthwise of and beneath, and bridges, the seam to be welded, and is pressed into close contact with the back side or surface of the plates, in.

order to retain in position the melted metal on 4 which would otherwisedrip through.

In some welding operations, it is customary to provide a groove in and extending along one face of the backing bar, so that the groove may be positioned directly beneath and in alignment with the seam to be welded to serve as a receptools for such melted metal which runs through the seem, so that such metal will solidify and form a bead along the underside of the weld and also provide a reinforcement for the weld.

of course, withdrawn from the molten welding pool and, hence lowers the level of thispool. After running ahead a certain distance in the groove,.;the metal solidifies, filling the groove. As the high temperature welding medium (electric arc or oxy-acetylene flame) passes over this solidified metal, the groove being filled, no molten metal can enter the groove or run ahead therein and the welding pool maintains its normal height. This periodic running ahead 0! the molten metal in the groove and consequent loweringot the pool level, causes an equally periodic misshapen appearance or the upper surface. 01 the completed weld. I

Further, the solidifying 01 the metal in the groove renders it difllcult to move the backing bar relative to the work asthe weld progresses, since this solidified metal must remain intact short backing bar is used and advanced relatively to the work to maintain the bar directly the back side of the work and the molten weld metal is prevented from running along the back side of the work in advance of the welding point;

to provide improved backing means preferably of high heat conductivity in which the molten weld metal is prevented from running ahead of the weld along the back side of the work; to provide a grooved backing bar in which the drag of solidified weld metal in .the groove, during the advance of the bar, is substantially eliminated; to provide a grooved backing bar in which a head of the exact shape desired may be easily obtained; to provide a grooved backing bar adapted to aid in producing a weld of uniform depth throughout itslen'gth; and to provide a backing bar having a tapering groove in one face thereof which groove terminates short of one end of said face.

These and other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view of one embodiment of the invention, taken on the line Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sectional views,

similar to Fig. 1, illustrating other embodiments of the invention.

Generally speaking, the invention comprises a method of weld uniting metal members in which such members are' arranged with their adjacent edges in juxtaposition to form a groove or recess to receive molten weld metal. The edges of the members may be cut to form a groove of any de-- sired shape, such as a V or a U, or the edges or so the members may be left uncut and separated a short distance, to provide a receptacle or recess to receive the molten metal. is then progressively deposited inand along such grooveor recess to fill the same. A weld backsand pass lengthwise through the groove when a. t ing means, preferably of high heat condutivity,

The molten metal is provided in operative association with the back. side or rear surface of the work. memhers to bridge the welding seam, and provide a receptacle for molten metal whereby a weld reinforw ing bead may be formed on the back side of the members in alignment with the groove. The backing means is formed to prevent the moltenv metal from running along the back. side oi the work in advance of the welding point, and, to insure the formation of an in'tegral reinforcing bead of ure-selected form. ti hile the hacking means or member and the worlt ma he mai tainocl relatively stationary, the lid. lll ,n" may be advanced along the work in, with, the movement of the welding poir. to the work.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1. and of the drawing, the steel plates M to be weld united are arranged with their edges li it juxtaposition to form a welding seam W. The welding rod or filler metal R is disposed substantially centrally of the welding seam W. Preferably, the juxtaposed edges E il of plates M are beveled as indicated and are disposed sub stantially centrally of a receptacle or groove El on a backing means such as a bar )3 operatively associated with the rear surface of the work to bridge the welding seam opposite the welding region. Suitable means (not shown) may be provided for pressing the backing bar B into close engagement with the back side of the members M. The backing bar B has sufficient mass and is of sufficiently high heat conductivity to dissipate heat. from the metal forming the bead rapidly enough so that the metal will quickly solidify during the advance of the welding point. Preferably, the bar B is formed of copper or any other suitable metal of high heat conductivity. The groove 8 therein is of varying depth and cross-sectional area, and preferably tapers from a closed end at a point In in the upper face .12 of the backing bar B, which point is short of one end ll of the bar, to the other end l6 of the bar. From the point H) to the end face It the groove I increases in depth and in width or cross-sectional dimension for a purpose to be described hereinafter. Preferably, at the point it! directly beneath the welding point, the groove 8 has a depth corresponding to the form of the finished reinforcing bead desired on the back side of the weld.

- In this embodiment of the invention, the bar B and the plates M are adapted to move relatively to each other; and, while either the bar or the work may be the moving element, it usually is desirable to maintain the metal depositing means, such as the welding rod R, and the bar B stationary and move the members M relative thereto in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2.

In performing the method of the invention, molten weld metal from the rod R is progressively deposited into and along the welding groove or seam W, so that some molten metal flows into the groove I at the point l8, thereby forming a bead of the shape desired integral with the back side of the work. The molten metal in the groove 8 is prevented from flowing ahead of the weld by virtue of the fact that the groove I is discontinuous beyond the point It.

When the molten metal contacts the surface of the groove 8 in the bar B, the chilling action of the bar causes the metal to solidify and form the bead 20. Referring to Fig. 2, it will be apparent that as the plates M move to the left the head 20 gradually moves out of contact with the i methods shown in aosavie bottom. of the groove e as the welding point it progresses to the right. Similarly, the bar B may be easily moved relatively to the work, and the drag of the solidified weld metal in either event is substantially eliminated, contrary to the con dition that occurs with previous backing bars in which the grooves have been of uniform crosssection and depth. throughout their length.

In. this embodiment of the invention, a short copper bar is used, it may, if desired, be cooled. by circulating a. su heat ab o'rhing in, contact 1 no i; the

7 not is i'eaturt While the embodiment of the invention illus Figs. l, Ll, fin-(1.3 pr f ared, jects oi tl nvention int t and 5.

ti and are 2, and 3, l,

elements illustrated. in with those shown in Figs. erence characters, and. ii primed, have been used. to corresponding parts.

In the embodiment of the invention l ustrated. in Fig. i, the steel plates M are an nged with, their adjacent beveled fi -li in juxtaposition to form a welding seam or groove W. In. operative engagement with the back side of the members, is a solid copper backing bar B, the upper surface of which is torqued with a Ziongttudinal groove 3d disposed in alignment with the seam W. The groove all is of uniform depth and cross-section throughout its length and is substantially the exact shape of the bead desired to be formed on the back side of the members M. Before setting the backing bar B against the under side of the se -.m to be welded, solid fusible metal, preferably in the form of a bar or rod 32 of metal of the same composition as that to be .deposited from the rod R or that forming the members or steel plates M, is placed in and substantially completely fills the groove 30.

The members M and bar B are maintained stationary and the rod R is moved along the seam as it is melted, substantially filling the seam with molten weld metal. As the welding operation progresses, the rod 12 is progressively melted and unites with the weld metal to form a reinforcing bead therefor when it solidifies. As the solid rod 32 completely fills the groove 38, the welding puddle is maintained at a uniform depth throughout its length, because the unmelted,

indicate identical or solid portion of the rod prevents molten weld metal from flowing through the groove ahead of the welding point. It will be obvious that a bead of predetermined form is assured and .both the upper and lower surface of the welded seam will have a substantially uniform appearance.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 5 is substantially similar to that illustrated in Fig. 4. In this embodiment, however, the rod 32 is omitted and the groove 30 in the upper surface of bar B is filled with a finely divided granular material M) which desirably has a melting point substantially equal to the melting point of the members M.

While various materials are suitable for use in this respect, the material preferred should be a refractory mineral composition and of such a nature that it can be fused by the welding heat. Suitably, the granular material has a melting point not substantially higher than that of the metal to be welded. and is substantially free from In electric welding operations such one disclosed in Patent rid-2,043,960, issued in the names of Jones, Kennedy and Rotermund.

wherein the tip of the electrode is submerged under a blanket of refractory material, it is desirable to place the same kind of refractory material in the groove 30 of the backing bar shown in Fig. 5.

As the welding progresses, molten metal is progressively deposited in and along seam W and fills the groove 30 displacing the granular material 4a, which is progressively fused and flows to the topoi the weld. The uniused portion of the granular material ahead of the welding point prevents molten weld metal from running ahead in the groove 30, assuring a unifor depth oi. metal in seam W. Consequent y, a bead oi unilorm depth and cross-sectional area is obtained on the back of the welded joint and the appearance of the upper suriace oi the weld is substanually uniform.

'l'lle principles of the invention may be used with any type of welding, and the heat to melt the rod R and the juxtaposed edges of the plates M may be furnished by an oxy-I'uel gas torch, by an electrlcarc, or by any other suitable means. if the invention is used in a welding operation of the type described and claimed in Patent No. 4,043,900, the heating may be accomplished by a suitable source or electric current connected to the rod R and the metal members M. The principles or the invention are applicable also to other special types of welding operations, such as, for example, "Ther'mit" welding. 1

Although grooves of substantially semi-circular cross-section are shown in the drawing, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular cross-sectional contour of the groove, as other cross-sectional contours may be practical and desirable under certain conditions. A180, while the solid metal rod 32 is shown as semi-cylindrical, the same may be rectangular,

triangular or any other shape, provided the groove 30 is completely filled with solid metal, or the solid metal to fill the groove 30 may be provided in other than the form of a rod. While the members M are shown with beveled edges, it has been found in practicing the present invention that the members M maybe adequately weld united if their edges are not beveled, provided a substantial gap is left between the same. The several backing bars shown assure the formation of a bead of desired dimensions along the back. of the welding groove or seam irrespective of the shape of the adjacent edges oi the members.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention may be otherwise embodied and practiced and that physical changes may be made in the dimensions and form oi the illustrated elements without departing from the scope oi the invention.

What is claimed isi I. A method of weld uniting metal members with a welded joint having a bead of pre-selected form on its back side which comprises arrangin said members with their adjacent edges in juxtaposition to form a seam to be welded; bridging the back side of said seam with backing chill means of relatively high heat conductivity and mass; providing in said backing means a receptacle at least a portion of which .is the exact shape of the bead desired; progressively depositing molten metal in and along said seam irom the other side of the latter and in said receptacle to provide a welded Joint beaded along its back side while preventing such molten metal from running along the back side of said seam m advenue of the welding point; and, as said molten metal in said receptacle solidifies to form a bead on the back side or said seam, progressively moving said backing chill means out or contact with said head while maintaining said means in contact with saidmembers. I

a. A method or weld uniting metal members with a welded joint having a bead oi pre-selected form on its back side which comprises arranging said members with their adjacent edges in Jul:- taposition to form a seam to be welded; bridging the back side of said seam with backing means of relatively high heat conductivity; providing in said backing means a receptacle at least a portion of which is the exact shape of the bead desired; disposing in said receptacle solid fusible metal completely filling said receptacle; progressively depositing molten metal in and along said seam from the other side or the latter: and simultaneously therewith progressively and locally melting said solid fusible metal over its entire cross-sectional area without melting said backing means, and thereafter removing said back said receptacle 9. mass of unbonded granular fusible refractory mineral material which is free from substances that evolve gas when heated to welding temperature; progressively depositing molten metal in and along said seam from the other side of the latter; and simultaneously therewith progressively fusing said refractory material so that said molten metal will progressively d.splace said material to provide a welded joint beaded along its back side.

4. In combination, means for depositing molten metal progressively along a seam between the opposed edges of two juxtaposed metal members to produce a welded Joint uniting said members; and a backing chill bar of high heat conductivity and mass engaging successive portions of the rear surfaces of said members and bridging said seam oppositethe welding region adjacent such metal-depositing means, said backing bar having a groove cooperating with said seam to hold molten metal during'lts solidification and thereby produce a bead integral with and extending along the back side of saldieint, such groove having :provision for preventing the molten metal therein joint a sufllcient distance to interfere with. the pool oi! deposited molten metal.

5. In combination, means for depositing molten metal progressively along a seam between the opposed edges of two juxtaposed metal. members to produce a welded joint uniting said members; and a, backing bor arranged and adapted to pro-- gressi'vely engage successive portions of the rear surfaces of said Il'lEIlibBIS and to bridge said seam, opposite the weldir. region adjacent such metui-- depositingmeans, said backing bar having groove cooperotimc with said seem to hold molten metal; during its 5 lidliicn'tion. and the duce a bcml intcgirci the buck side of or joint, such groove hot ii closed locum welding rcgiccii.

ii. combination in such nrovi:

solid usiblc i hr the smnc i as cuc motel cud inciting advances itiljllli'.

such prov] material Wit ahead oi so i int; progrcs ivcly said scum, lie-min material it tc ding along said 5 Jll, ouch mntcrio rm: ...i.c weld ng advances u cltci the portioifi. oi our partitions, backing her having a surface misty ed to bc disposed in contact with the boclii sidc oi the members to co welded, said surface being formed with a. groove extending longitudinally and substantially centrally thereof from c first point short of one end of said surface to a second point on the other end of said surface,

9. For use in welding operations, a backing bur having a surface adapted to be disposed in contact with the back side of the members to be welded, said surface being formed with a groove extending longitudinally and substantially centrally thereof from a first point shortof one end of said surface to a second point on the other end of said surface, said groove increasing in depth from said first point to said second point,

10. For use in welding operations, a backing bar having a surface adapted to be disposed in contact with the back side of the members to be welded, said surface being formed with a groove extending longitudinally and substantially centrally thereof from a first point short of one end of said surface-to a second point on the other end of said surface, said groove increasing in crosssectional area from said first point to said second point.

11. Welding apparatus comprising means operatively associated with the members to be welded to form a head of pro-selected form on the back side of such members, said means including, in

genome combination, chili moons providing c rcceptecle of high hectconductiritzr cud mass for the m olmn weld motel. forming such bead; and means preventing such molten weid metal from running along the side oi such membcrc in advance of the Welding point.

iii. Means for forming at Weld reinforcing bend of prc-selectcrl form on the bcci: side of metal members to be Weld united, crud men:

W. i! wold uco m in. ou

i of

our to enh it i Iii. Means for to said i ironing in one our tapered groove odoptcd to be aligned wi u the boclt side of a scam to be welded, said groove extending only from a. point intermediate cf the ends of the bar to one end thereof and tapering from said end to said intermediate point.

15. In combination, a. weld rod adapted to have an electric fusion-welding current maintained from the end thereof to a scam between opposed edges of two juxtaposed metal members adapted to be arranged therebcnecth and to be progressively welded, and a copper bucking member having a surface adapted to engage successive non tions of the rear surface oi? said members to be welded and to bridge said seam opposite the end of the weld rod, said surface of the backing memher being formed with a groove extending only from a point intermediate of the extremities thereof to one end thereof, said intermediate point being positioned near the end of the weld rod and said groove adapted to extend longitudinaliy of and directly underneath the scam in a direction downstream with respect to the seam which is adapted to be progressively welded, whereby said groove is adapted to underlie welded portions of the seam.

' LLOYD T. JONES. 

